My Little Boy

Chapter Eleven

Time After Time

The Nevada sun was just about to dip into the horizon, as a slender figure looked out into the distance. An Aston Martin drove along the highway and transformed into a tall, cyber organic giant.

"Thought I find you here," smiled Cliffjumper as Thrash In turned to see who it was.

A smile was across her metallic face. Cliff could feel his insides tighten. Every time she did that, he could swore his knee sockets would crumble.

"I always come here at the end of the day..." she said. "Sunsets just seem so... liberating. I wonder if Cybertron's anything like this."

Cliffjumper looked and saw that there was a rock that could support his own weight. Walking to the 'chair', he glanced out into the distance and just about lost himself in the serenity of all of it.

"... but Cybertron wouldn't have any of this at all," he began. "The trees, the lakes... even the rocks. Still... it would be nice to know what our actual home was like before the war."

Turning to look at his best friend, he noticed the look on her face was a solid, unbreakable one. Her eyes looked like they were in deep thought, someone could knock her over easily if someone timed it right.

Something was on her mind. He was a hundred percent sure. He knew her... better than anyone, including herself.

"You okay?" the young mech broke the silence.

"Yeah, I'm fine, why?"

Those same golden optics were looking right at him.

"It's just, you always seem to be loosing yourself, recently," he began. "Staring out into space..."

"... we are from outer space, in case if you hadn't notice," Thrash In said.

"No, not that kind of space...!" Cliffjumper stammered.

Thrash In's literal humor could get amusing from time to time, though this was a serious matter.

"Ever since your mom came around... it really got you stirred up. And I know how you get whenever someone brings her up."

Thrash In bit her lip, optics darting to the ground. Her head turned to glance to the right towards the trees and the rest of the wildlife. The answers were right in front of her all along.

And she couldn't even bring herself to speak them out.

"You're angry at yourself, T.I.," he began. "All that attitude, all that 'I'm so intense'... You think you're not worth it. Excluding yourself, so you withdraw from everyone else around you, 'cause you think they'll reject you the moment they lay eyes on you. The moment someone tries to get close to you, you back off as if they're gonna eat you, when in fact you can scrap them like the prototypes in target practice."

Her head immediately turned to look at him.

Jackpot.

He hit a nerve.

If he didn't choose his words carefully, he would be flying five yards away from her. Though, Thrash In didn't subspace her hand blaster, so he was on the safe side... Cliffjumer didn't mean to sound so harsh, but he tried to be honest as possible, and still try and sound supportive of her. So far, he seemed to have them hand and hand.

He was going to live.

After what felt like forever, Thrash In finally began to speak.

"Everyday, I feel like I'm in this war I can't get out of," she began. "Airachnid did things that just chill me, the first few minutes mentioning the things she did would horrify anyone... And she's my mom, Cliff. Everyday, I hope to Primus that I don't end up like her; everyday I fear that I'm going to be the cold blood killer she is. That's why I'm afraid to get close to anyone... and I'm scared I'm gonna hurt them."

Lubricant was in her optics, giving Cliffjumper a hard stare.

'I may hurt you...'

He got up from where he sat, took her hand and gently squeezed it.

She shouldn't be saying these things. She was being so mean to herself. How could a Bot, so inspirational, so powerful and awe inspiring say such cruel things about themselves?

"You're not her," Cliffjumper began. "And forget what my own mom thinks. Forget what Uncle Ratchet, Uncle Bulkhead, what any of the uncles think. Uncle Optimus always gives everyone a second chance, regardless if they used to be an Autobot or Decepticon; and your dad's gonna be your dad."

The two young Cybertronians chuckled.

"... and there's me."

A stern, but warm look was across the femme's face as Cliffjumper continued to speak.

"I'm not going anywhere, Thrash In," he said. "To me, you're just T.I., not the stone sparked killer your mom turned out to be. And I'm always gonna be here for you, no matter how bad it gets."

They were soon in an embrace. Cliffjumper could hear Thrash In's sobs as he gently patted her back. She wasn't a five star commander. She wasn't an Insecticon. She wasn't even born into the life of a solider.

Yet she carried the wait of the world on her shoulders, and she did nothing to deserve such a burden. And he was going to tell her that.

He was always going to catch her.

Time after time...

Note*~

Song: Time After Time - Eva Cassidy

A raise of the glass and toast to Ruler0fFire. May the phoenix rise from the ashes, renewed and aflame. Kick some ass. 8)